Report: Mississippians pay some of highest car costs in U.S.

ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — Wyoming is the most expensive state to operate a motor vehicle and Iowa is the cheapest, according to a new Bankrate.com report, but Mississippi is not too far behind.

Bankrate factored in the annual costs of gasoline, insurance and repairs.

In Wyoming, a typical driver spends $2,705 per year to operate his or her vehicle. In Iowa, the average driver spends just $1,942 per year. The national average is $2,223.

While Wyoming has below-average costs for car repairs, gas prices and insurance, drivers in this state drive 68 percent more than the typical driver and therefore spend a whopping $1,588 per year on gas — more than anywhere else in the country.

One major reason Iowa is the cheapest place to operate a vehicle is because drivers there enjoy the cheapest car insurance rates in the country (average of just $630 per year). Car repairs are also relatively inexpensive; typical drivers in Iowa spend just $315 per year.

Louisiana ($2,555), Florida ($2,516), Mississippi ($2,487) and New Jersey ($2,421) round out the five most expensive states.